SCHENECTADY — The Schenectady Foundation has made a significant impact by awarding $675,000 to six projects aimed at improving access to healthy foods in Schenectady County.
The foundation’s Equitable Access to Healthy Food initiative is a game-changer for the community, addressing the challenge of limited grocery stores and the resulting difficulty in accessing quality food, especially for low-income individuals. Since 2020, the Schenectady Foundation has contributed nearly $2 million to tackle this issue.
Robert Carreau, executive director of the Schenectady Foundation, emphasized the importance of the grants, stating, “Our grants are designed to meet current food security needs, promote innovation, and address the root cause of food insecurity. We are committed to ensuring that all people have consistent, reliable, and equitable access to healthy food for themselves and their families.”
One of the grant recipients, the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, received $200,000 to ensure that local food pantries are stocked with foods that cater to the diverse cultures in Schenectady County.
Susan Lintner, director of community impact for the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, explained the significance of the grant, saying, “This grant will allow us to provide our network of pantries in Schenectady County with an inventory that meets their clients’ needs, based on what clients want and need.”
In addition, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schenectady County is set to receive $182,000 to expand its Healthy Living 360 project, which educates Schenectady public school students, adults with disabilities, and others on growing their own food and eating healthy.
The funding will support an apprenticeship program that will enable participants to receive a formal education with the help of SUNY Schenectady County Community College and obtain regular employment with the City Mission of Schenectady.
SUNY Schenectady was also awarded $43,000 to purchase refrigerated lockers to store food packages for campus pantry users who cannot get to the pantry during regular hours.
The college opened its food pantry in 2017 and has seen a steady increase in visits in the years since. Last year, 276 individuals visited the pantry 1,519 times, marking an 86% increase between 2022 and 2023.
Schenectady Community Ministries and The Food Pantries for the Capital District were also awarded $100,000 each in funding, which the organizations will use to increase warehouse space and facilitate a multi-prong approach to food delivery in areas that lack a pantry, respectively.
The Luken Daily Bread Food Pantry at St. Luke’s Roman Catholic Church in Schenectady was also awarded $50,000, which will be used to procure food that will allow the organization to operate every Saturday and shorten the period between client visits from four weeks to 21 days.
Kristi Milligan, director of grants and community programs for the Schenectady Foundation, highlighted the collaborative nature of the projects, stating, “Like never before, organizations are coming together to more effectively understand and address the root causes of nutrition insecurity in our community.”
Agree Food availability is crucial for building healthy and thriving communities. Kudos to the Schenectady Foundation for supporting initiatives that improve access to nutritious food!
Agree Great job, Schenectady Foundation! Improved food availability is essential for building healthier communities.